Fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight: cross-sectional and prospective associations in a community sample of working adults

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight in a community sample of working adults.DesignCross-sectional and prospective analysis of anthropometric, survey and dietary data from adults recruited to participate in a worksite nutrition intervention. Participants self-reported frequency of fast-food consumption per week. Nutrient intakes and diet quality, using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), were computed from dietary recalls collected at baseline and 6 months.SettingMetropolitan medical complex, Minneapolis, MN, USA.SubjectsTwo hundred adults, aged 18–60 years.ResultsCross-sectionally, fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher daily total energy intake (β=72·5, P=0·005), empty calories (β=0·40, P=0·006) and BMI (β=0·73, P=0·011), and lower HEI-2010 score (β=−1·23, P=0·012), total vegetables (β=−0·14, P=0·004), whole grains (β=−0·39, P=0·005), fibre (β=−0·83, P=0·002), Mg (β=−6·99, P=0·019) and K (β=−57·5, P=0·016). Over 6 months, change in fast-food consumption was not significantly associated with changes in energy intake or BMI, but was significantly inversely associated with total intake of vegetables (β=−0·14, P=0·034).ConclusionsFrequency of fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher energy intake and poorer diet quality cross-sectionally. Six-month change in fast-food intake was small, and not significantly associated with overall diet quality or BMI.